Men's DIII Lacrosse: Salisbury Shuts Down Gettysburg, 8-2

SALISBURY, Md. -- The No. 3-ranked Salisbury University men's lacrosse team put forth a stellar defensive effort in the team's 8-2 victory over No. 12 Gettysburg College in front of 1,218 in attendance at Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The two goals scored by the Bullets (2-2) is the lowest in program history since an 11-2 setback to Washington (Md.) College in the Centennial Conference championship game on April 27, 2003.

After winning the game's first faceoff, Gettysburg slowed down the pace, working the ball around and taking just two shots in the first three minutes of the contest. Following a turnover by Gettysburg, Salisbury (5-0) cleared the ball into the offensive end where junior midfielder Sam Bradman's behind-the-back attempt went just wide of the net. After a quick restart, junior attackman Erik Krum scored off an assist from Matt Cannone for the first goal of the day. Gettysburg tallied its only goal of the first quarter on a fast break attempt by Danno Lynch off an assist from Pat Sartory.

Salisbury capitalized on a man-up chance early in the second quarter, as junior attackman Tony Mendes' rocket screeched into the top corner of the goal for the 2-1 advantage. Krum tallied his second goal of the contest at the 9:56 mark, with the goal coming off an assist from sophomore midfielder Ryan Clarke. SU closed out the quarter with a pair of man-up goals a minute apart to bring the score to 5-1, as senior midfielder Shawn Zordani and Mendes each tallied goals.

At the half, Salisbury held a 16-13 shots advantage, picked up 14 ground balls (compared to just nine for Gettysburg) and won six-of-eight face-offs.

Bradman kicked off the third quarter with a man-up goal off an assist from Zordani just 20 seconds in. After nearly 10 minutes of scoreless play, Salisbury torched the Gettysburg net for two goals in a span of nine seconds, as Mendes and Krum finished off the scoring for the Sea Gulls.

The only tally of the final quarter came from Gettysburg's Chris Cahill off an assist from Dylan Schmitz at the 11:29 mark.

SU senior goalkeeper Johnny Rodriguez gobbled up the Bullets' shots throughout the contest, finishing with a season-high 16 saves. The Gambrills, Md., native fell just one save shy of his career-high.

Mendes (one assist) and Krum each finished with three goals to pace the Sea Gulls in the contest; the three goals for Mendes establishes a new career-high. Cannone recorded three points on three assists, while Bradman collected two points on one goal and one assist.

Gettysburg's J.T. McCook turned in an impressive performance for the visitors, as he finished with 11 saves in the contest.

The Sea Gulls will take a one-week hiatus before their next action, a non-conference contest against Ohio Wesleyan University; the game is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at Sea Gull Stadium at 1 p.m.